purchase or not?

I am looking at a 1998 XJ8, 55.000 miles, on the lot at a Ford dealer. He's asking $16,9000. I haven't run it by a mechanic yet, but is this a decent car - is the recent Jag track record really better with this model? I already have a 1990 Volvo 760 GL (200K, but wiht a rebuilt engine wiht only 30K on it) that needs constant little bits of work, and I dont want to have two cars that need that sort of nickel and dime attention.

So, friends, what about this car? What about the price? If I decide to pursue it further, what should a mechanic ook for - and while I have a very good and honest general mechanic I've used for years, should I go to a jag specialist for an assessment (and for work if I buy it?) just as my general mechanic referred me to a Volvo specialist for my 760 GL work?

We'd mainly use this car to commute 30 miles to work every day, and make about a 300 mile round trip every other weekend.

I would greatly value your opinions.

Thanks,
Brian

Have a dealership check the timing chain tensioners.

I just joined as I just purchased a Jaguar XJ8 and ran across this post.

FWIW, I bought the XJ8 from a local seller here in Dallas, it is a 1998 XJ8, black, with 59,500 miles on it and I paid $10,500.

Not sure if that data point is typical or a good deal, sounded like a good deal to me so I jumped on it.